Healing Hearts 12: Road to Happiness

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Nope, not my turn,” Danny said, and then Ace got them all another round of beers.

  * * * *

  After dinner as Danny leaned back on the lounge chair by the cabana and pool, he closed his eyes and he thought about the case and about these men the government were looking for. What first began as small-time smuggling business soon turned into multiple storefront locations that were fronts for other businesses. When he and Kyle, one of the other agents, went into the vitamin store to ask some questions, the last thing they expected was to be attacked. Kyle called in for backup as multiple men came at them, four taking on Danny.

  He rubbed his head and felt the slight lump. He was glad he didn’t have a concussion, or he would have had to stay in the hospital longer.

  “Want to talk about it?” Ace asked him, taking a seat beside him. Corona, Briar, and Cliff joined him, as well.

  “Ahhh, just going over it in my head. Never expected to be attacked. Kyle and I went in to check out this storefront location that was on the local police department’s radar. They noticed a few vans and delivery trucks coming and going more often than what seemed normal. When one of the guys we’re investigating had been seen entering the place, we went to check it out. It was set up as a vitamin store, but there were bars on the windows and the doors, security cameras all over the place, and armed guards. Of course we didn’t know about the armed guards until we entered.”

  “Shit, what happened next?” Briar asked.

  “It was pretty quick. We asked about the place and said a friend recommended the vitamins here. The next thing we know, men are coming at us from the back and it’s chaos. No one fucking drew a gun though. It was a fist fight. Four on me as Kyle called for backup and then drew his weapon. I’m fighting off these guys, and fists are coming at me left and right. Kyle shoots two other guys, and it stuns the others, giving me time to draw my weapon. I do and take out multiple, but two got away through the back door. We were fighting for our lives.”

  “You were lucky they didn’t shoot both of you and then get rid of the bodies,” Cliff said and shook his head.

  “Tell me about it. However, the back room was filled with drugs and still in the crates from Columbia that they were shipped in. Came from a business in Virginia. Vitamins, herbs, and protein powders sealed by the manufacturer with drugs hidden inside of them. We’re in the hospital getting checked out, and a group of other agents locate the facility and send in agents, and the place is vacant.”

  “No product?” Corona asked.

  “Fucking wiped clean. There was some residue being analyzed, but no containers, no signs on the building, broken things around like it was a rush job. They knew agents were coming.”

  “Sounds like a pretty significant operation and one that has people on standby who are resourceful and can work quickly,” Corona added.

  “Which means not so small-time after all,” Ace said to him.

  “Exactly, and there were other crates, coming from other locations we don’t know. We’re tracking those, but it’s obvious we’ll wind up with nothing,” Danny told them.

  “What about other locations like this fake storefront? Got more leads on those?” Briar asked.

  “That’s what we’re working on. Hoping to come up with a few names soon enough and some connection to this guy Manuel. Not sure of the last name, but we got a bit of a description on him. We’re working on finding him, but it seems he disappeared about two years ago after a business associate of his was found dead with his throat slit. No evidence, but intel says it was the handiwork of Visado Lang. Got nothing on him. He’s clean as a whistle. Anyway, we need to be more alert now that we had this situation. Can’t go in with guns drawn, but we won’t make the same mistake next time of casually walking into the place.”

  “Hey, it sounds like you did everything right. Who would have known that there were that many men in there and that they would immediately attack instead of trying to play off the whole fake storefront thing? Put it behind you and move on,” Cliff said.

  “Yeah, use those bruises to land some chicks, bro. The beer and BBQ fest is Saturday, and everyone is going. You’ll have chicks drooling all over you,” Briar teased.

  “Screw you,” he said, and they laughed. Danny took another slug of beer and then leaned back and tried to relax. He could use the next few days to revamp and get his shit together. His gut clenched. He had a feeling this case was going to get a lot worse before it was resolved. Especially considering that the computers that were taken from the companies and from the individual’s homes had information on bomb-making techniques. He didn’t even want to go there yet. Another team would handle that aspect.

  For now, he relaxed, knowing he was with his brothers and he had made it through a pretty scary encounter. His training, his strength, and his quick reflexes saved his life. Things could have so easily turned out differently, and he could have died. It shook him up, but he wouldn’t tell his brothers that. Instead, he put it behind him and would use the weekend to recover.

  * * * *

  Amber held the little boy’s hand as Dr. Ford finished applying burn cream to his arm. The poor kid fell while in the backyard and knocked into a charcoal grill that tumbled over and he burned him. The parents got him to urgent care quickly, and Dr. Ford felt that he would be okay.

  “There you go, kiddo. We’ll wrap this up, and I’ll give your mom and dad a prescription for some antibiotic cream.” He then looked at the parents.

  “Twice a day for the first few days. Keep this covered gently so it doesn’t get infected. Also, he can have some ibuprofen for the ache, and plenty of ice cream, too,” he added, and the little boy’s frown turned into a smile.

  “Thank you so much, Dr. Ford,” the dad said, and Amber began to escort them out of the room when she noticed two large men by the admissions counter talking to Cindy. Amber recognized them immediately. That was Cliff and Ace Flemming, Joanna’s brothers. She could see that Cliff looked pale and was holding a towel around his forearm.

  Cindy was tongue-tied staring at the two good-looking soldiers, and she couldn’t blame her. They were both super hot. Both had blondish-brown hair, military styles, tattoos on their arms, muscles galore, and were about six feet four or so. She immediately walked over as Ace was giving some information.

  “What do you mean wait?” Cliff asked with attitude. It was a little busy in the waiting room but for minor things. This looked more serious. As intimidated as she was by these men, she needed to do her job and they were Jo’s brothers.

  “Cliff, Ace, what’s going on?” She approached and immediately both men looked at her and just stared. She almost stopped short. Ace looked pissed, and Cliff widened his eyes, then quickly shook his head and turned away. Was he embarrassed, or was he annoyed at seeing her?

  “Amber, you work here?” Ace asked as she placed her hand on Cliff’s shoulder and took his hand where the towel was wrapped around his forearm.

  “Yes, what happened?”

  “Got a little crazy chopping wood. A piece came up and cut through my skin. I need stitches,” Cliff said, and she slid her arm around his waist.

  “You look like you’re going to pass out.” She gripped him tight, could feel the muscles and smell his cologne.

  “He didn’t tell any of us. He was trying to stop the bleeding himself,” Ace told her, staring into her eyes.

  “Amber, these are friends of yours?” Cindy asked.

  She tore her eyes from Ace’s and spoke to Cindy, making sure that Cliff was treated right away.

  “Yes, very good friends. I’m going to take them to room three.”

  “There’s a wait.”

  “Not for them,” she snapped back and started to bring Cliff along with her.

  “Ace can stay and handle the paperwork. Then he can come back to room three.” She gave the orders, and Cindy nodded and then smiled at Ace.

  “I love your name. It’s very cool,” Cindy flirted, and Amber felt annoyed. She shou
ldn’t feel annoyed at all.

  “Hey, I can walk. You don’t need to hold on to me,” Cliff said to her in a hard tone. She didn’t take offense to it. Guys were always trying to be tough when they came in here with wounds like this. Usually they were embarrassed.

  “I just don’t want you to pass out. Your coloring is off, Cliff.”

  “I’m fine.” He inhaled and then inhaled again.

  Was he sniffing her hair? She felt the attraction, and she immediately got scared. She opened the door and released him as he sat down on the examination table, and she started to unwrap his arm.

  “I didn’t know you worked here. You’re a nurse?”

  “Yes, and medical technician. I do X-rays, and MRIs, and other things, too, when needed.” She unwrapped the towel and saw the gash.

  “Nice one. You are definitely going to need stitches, and unfortunately a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in a while.”

  “Up to date on those. Work ensures we get every kind of shot there is for our protection.”

  She held his gaze, and those blue eyes bored into hers.

  “How have you been?” he asked her, and she heard the door open.

  She glanced over her shoulder as Ace came into the room. He towered over her and walked right up to the table. She felt his hand on her hip. She gasped and turned to look up at him.

  “Thanks for using your pull to get us in here. Cliff would be bitching some more if he had to wait in the waiting room. He’s such a baby.”

  “Not a baby. I’m actually feeling a lot better having Amber take care of me. Something about her touch is healing,” Cliff said, and she looked at him and snickered.

  “Nice one, Cliff.” She stepped away from Ace and him and went to the phone on the wall.

  “Dr. Ford, room three,” she said and then went about gathering the things she would need.

  “How long have you worked here?” Ace asked her.

  “For about a year,” she said and then brought items over to the table where Cliff sat.

  She was overwhelmed right now. So much was going through her head. She felt fearful being in a room alone with two large men she really didn’t know. Two capable, badass military men who intimidated the hell out of her. They were good-looking and filled with muscles, and they were flirting. Hell, they were inhaling like she smelled or something. She started to clean away the blood on his arm and then gently held bandages to the cut.

  “Your eyes are gorgeous, Amber. I think I told you that a couple of weeks ago at the BBQ,” Cliff said softly.

  “Did you?” she asked nonchalantly and looked away as the door opened.

  “What do we have here?” he asked.

  “Got into a battle with some wood I was chopping,” Cliff, said and Amber stepped aside.

  She felt Ace place his hand on her hip again, and she quickly moved away, locked gazes with him, and those dark blue eyes squinted like something was wrong with her. Like he expected her to be all smiley and in a daze because the hot, sexy soldier touched her. She got her guard up immediately despite the things running through her head. The attraction she felt, and wondered why? How? What made these men different from others out for sex? Out to play games?

  “Doesn’t look too deep. I’m not concerned about any nerve damage. Definitely deep enough for some stitches,” Dr. Ford said, and he looked back at her as he stepped away and gave her a smile.

  “Get things ready while I look over his records.” As Dr. Ford went to the computer, he asked Cliff a bunch of questions. All the regular stuff. Employment, any allergies to medication, previous surgeries or injuries, and when Cliff told him the list was too long to go over, she was shocked.

  “I guess it’s expected in your line of business.”

  “Don’t give him excuses, Doc. He can be a klutz. In fact, he’ll make up a story about what happened,” Ace teased.

  The doctor laughed. “I don’t think he’ll need it. You got my staff drooling already. Except for Amber here,” he added, and they all looked at Amber as Dr. Ford stood up.

  “Amber is a tough one. I agree completely,” Ace said as he looked her body over in the nurse uniform.

  “You guys know one another?” he asked.

  “They’re one of my best friend’s brothers,” Amber told the doctor.

  “Ahhh, so you know their games?” Dr. Ford asked, standing by Amber. She felt his hand on her hip, and then he moved his hand up her back to her shoulder. She tightened up. She hated to be touched, and she especially got nervous and shaky when a man did it. Dr. Ford squeezed her shoulder as he looked at her. “She’s a gem, and the only nurse that people actually ask for in urgent care. That isn’t a regular occurrence,” he said and then gave her a wink and released his hold.

  She stepped back and swallowed hard. When she looked up, both Ace and Cliff had pissed-off looks on their faces.

  “Okay, Amber, let’s patch this soldier up. We got a full house out there.”

  * * * *

  Cliff couldn’t get over seeing Amber. Nor could he stop inhaling her perfume or enjoying her bedside manner as she stood close by as Dr. Ford did the stitches. The guy was pretty nice, but Cliff was annoyed at the way the doctor smiled at Amber and even touched her, squeezed her shoulder like he was protecting her from them. Her expressions bothered Cliff, as well. She tightened up and looked uneasy. He hoped the guy wasn’t harassing her or something. It angered him, and the feelings of jealousy were instantly strong.

  “You’re doing great, Cliff. I guess you’re used to getting stitches,” she said softly.

  He was used to getting them. He had plenty of scars on his body, but they still pinched. “Never get used to them, doll, just used to sucking it up and wondering how bad the scar might be. I got a few,” he said, holding her gaze.

  Her gorgeous blue eyes swept over his body, and Jesus, he felt it. Felt his cock harden, and he was shocked. She was sweet, young, and holy fuck, would be a delicacy to a man like him. An older man. Jesus, he had to look away.

  The phone on the wall was buzzing, and Amber answered it.

  “Okay, Cindy, he’s finishing up now. Room two? No problem.” She ended the call.

  “Got a potential fracture in room two. A seven-year-old boy.”

  “There you go. Let Amber clean this up, apply some ointment, and wrap it up for you. I need to go check on this new patient.”

  “No problem. Thanks,” Cliff said and watched as the doctor took off the surgical gloves and then glanced at Amber.

  “I may need you for the X-ray if necessary.”

  “No problem. I’ll take care of this and then be right in.”

  He winked and then shook Ace’s hand and left the room.

  Amber walked closer with the things she needed.

  “Okay, so you probably know what you need to do to keep this clean and don’t get it wet. Wrap it up for showers and things. You’ll need to come back in a few weeks to get these taken out. Someone can call and schedule that.” He nearly shivered from her touch. He watched as her perfectly manicured pink nails stroked along his skin as she applied ointment to the wound and then moved his arm. The side of his hand was near her hip. He turned slightly to tug on her uniform.

  “You look good in this,” he whispered. She squinted at him as she wrapped his arm.

  “What? You don’t believe me?” he asked.

  She glanced at Ace, who stood closer than necessary. Holy shit, Ace felt it, too. They shouldn’t flirt with her. They were not commitment types, and Amber was definitely too sweet for sex only.

  She exhaled as if annoyed. “So, I will give you a list of things to look out for and also some suggestions in keeping this clean. If you have any questions—”

  “We’ll call you,” Ace interrupted.

  “You can call the main line and get assistance from one of the nurses.” She walked back toward the desk, and he looked at her ass in the tight white nursing pants, the pale pink top she wore that had a slight V in the front. When she b
ent, he got a glimpse of her abundant breasts. He knew she had an amazing body. Whenever she was around, Cliff sought her out.

  Cliff got down off the table and felt a little funny.

  “You okay?” Ace asked, and immediately Amber was there.

  She placed her hands on his hips, and he slid his good arm around her waist and locked gazes with her.

  She was staring up into his eyes, her hand against his cheek. “Do you feel dizzy? Light-headed? Faint?” she asked.

  Cliff was stunned as he held her gaze and licked his lips. “I’m fine.”

  She pursed her lips. “Don’t lie because you’re trying to act tough,” she snapped at him.

  It aroused Cliff way too much, and as Ace placed his hand on her shoulder, she gasped. Cliff felt the attraction. Felt a whole lot more than just desire. With Ace touching her, too, and little ole Amber between them, he wanted to kiss her.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered. Then began to lean closer so he could press his lips to hers.

  “Uhmm…you should be fine.” She turned toward Ace, and both their hands fell from her body. “Make sure he gets some rest and drinks plenty of water. Get the antibiotic and food into him. You’d be surprised how affected the body is when it sustains any form of shock like a cut so deep. Any questions and you can call the main line,” she said, all efficiently. She gathered the papers and handed them to Ace.

  “It was nice seeing you again, Amber,” Ace said to her.

  “You too. Take care of him and try not to wind up in here again, okay?” she said, and he wondered what that meant. Was it a dig at his injury or a warning to stay clear of her?

  Ace looked at him.

  “I think you scared her.”

  “Me?” Cliff asked and stood up and took a few breaths.

  “You really are off balance?” he asked.

  “I think it was Amber. She packs a hell of a punch. Holy fuck, she is hot and so damn beautiful.”

  “Smelled good, too. Lucky bastard,” Ace said, and Cliff smirked. As they headed out of the room, Cindy was there to flirt.